Apparatus for taking photographs of body cavities



June 24, 1952 E. J. MARCOUILLER 2,601,405

APPARATUS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OF BODY CAVITIES Filed Sept. '7, 1950 4Sheets-Sheet 1 4.9 a SID INVENTOR.

I I BY 2 3 "fit? June 24, 1952 E. J. MARCOUILLER APPARATUS FOR TAKINGPHOTOGRAPHS OF BODY CAVITIES Filed Sept. '7, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2INVHVTOR.

'June 24, 1952 E. J. MARCOUILLER APPARATUS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OFBODY CAVITIES Filed Sept. 7, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR:

lllllm llll l 1| ll Illl I! ll IITIIIIWIADP v III lllllllIl/IIJ/lllll/I""'lrlllr" l E. J. MARCOUILLER June 24, 1952 APPARATUS FOR TAKINGPHOTOGRAPHS OF BODY CAVITIES Filed Sept. 7, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Patented June 24, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR TAKINGPHOTOGRAPHS OF BODY CAVITIES 6 Claims. 1

My present invention relates to apparatus for taking photographs of bodycavities.

One of the objects of my present invention is to provide an operatingmeans to actuate the camera for taking the body cavity pictures afterthe camera is located within the body cavity.

A further object of my present invention is to provide means associatedwith the camera operating means for conducting air into the body cavityso as to blow up the body cavity and permit a proper picture to betaken.

Another object of my present invention is to provide a reflector meansassociated with the camera operating means in such a way that when theflash bulb of the camera creates a flash of light within the bodycavity, the refiector means will direct the light to permit a properpicture of the body cavity to be taken.

An additional object of my invention is to provide a camera operatingmeans having both a means for supplying air to the body cavity and areflector means, as described in the two immediately precedingparagraphs, since both of these features contribute to the taking of aproper picture.

With the above objects in view my present invention relates to anapparatus for taking pictures of body cavities comprising incombination, an elongated tubular outer casing which is open at bothends; an elongated camera supporting and operating means having an outersurface portion dimensioned so as to have a sliding air-tight fit withan inner surface portion of said outer casing, whereby said camerasupporting and operating mechanism is insertable within said outercasing through one of said open ends of said outer casing; and means forconducting air through said camera supporting and operating means, saidair-tight fit forcing said air to flow through the other of said ends ofsaid outer casing, whereby the body cavity may be blown up with air soas to permit the taking of a proper picture.

My present invention also relates to an apparatus for taking pictures ofbody cavities comprising in combination, an elongated camera supportingand operating means; means for inserting said camera supporting andoperating means into a body cavity; and reflector means mounted on saidcamera supporting and operating means, for directing light created by aflash bulb into said body cavity, whereby said apparatus may take aproper picture of said body cavity.

More particularly, .my present invention relates to an apparatus fortaking pictures of body cavities comprising in combination, an elongatedtubular outer casing which is open at both ends; a camera and anelongated camera supporting and operating means connected thereto havingan outer surface portion dimensioned so as to have a sliding air-tightfit with an inner surface portion of said outer casing, whereby saidcamera supporting and operating mechanism is insertable within saidouter casing through one of said open ends of said outer casing; meansfor inserting said camera and said camera supporting and operating meansinto a body cavity; a flash bulb located adjacent to said camera andoperatively connected thereto; reflector means, located on the side ofsaid flash bulb distant from said camera and adjustably mounted on saidcamera supporting and operating means, for directing light created by aflash bulb into said body cavity, said reflector means being dimensionedso as to provide a clearance space between said reflector and said outercasing; and means for conducting air through said camera supporting andoperating means and through said clearance space, said air-tight fitforcing said air to flow through the other of said ends of said outercasing, whereby the body cavity may be blown up with air so as to permitthe taking of a proper picture.

The novel features which I consider as characteristic for my inventionare set forth in particular in the appended claims. The inventionitself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages, will be bestunderstood from the following description of specific embodiments whenread in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view partly in section of the entire apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the camera construction with the shuttersof the cameras covering the openings thereof;

Fig. 3 is a view similarto Fig. 2 with the shutters in the positionwhere the openings to the films in the cameras are uncovered;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4- 3 of Fig. 2 looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken on line 55 of Fig. 2 looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 65 of Fig. 2 looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken through the o lower part of themechanism for operating the cameras;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken through the upper part of the mechanismfor operating the cameras;

Fig. 9 is a view or" the elongated element which operates the shutter inthe end camera and which is actuated by the shutter of the side cameras;

Fig. is a view of the shutter element for the side cameras;

Fig. 11 is a view of the element which is connected to the top of theside camera casing;

Fig. 12 is a view of the outer casing of the side cameras; and

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on line l3l3 i of Fig. 8 looking inthe direction of the arrows.

The end camera shown at the bottom of Fig. 2,

comprises the end part i which has a curved front surface with anopening 2 therein, as shown in Fig. 2. The said opening 2 has atransparent glass element 3 fitted therein. Within the element I isfitted cylindrical member 5 having a reduced end portion 8 whichslidingly fits within element l.

Within element 5 is enclosed element 1 which supports various workingparts of the camera. Element 1 has threaded openings extending in fromits surface and screws 4 extend through elements l, 5 and I, therebyconnecting all these elements together. the end far from glass 3 and isbored and countersunk from recess 8 to the other side of element '1.Within this bore which is threaded, is fitted threaded element 9 havinggrooves iii to fit a screw driver for inserting element 9 within thethreaded bore of element 1.

Threaded element 9 is axially bored, and within this bore is supportedthe lens II. From the lens H to the head end of threaded element 9 is aconical recess converging towards lens H so i that the light enteringthrough opening 2 and glass 3 may be distributed by lens ll over thesurface of the film held in the camera as described below.

Element 5 is internally threaded above element l and includes groove [2which extends longitudinally of element 5, interrupting the threadsthereof, and also extends through the side of element 1 and communicateswtih the space behind glass Within this groove is located the triggerelement 13 having a bevel end 14 located adjacent the lower end of thecamera, as viewed in Fig. 2. The opposite end l5 of trigger element I3is located adjacent the upper end of element 5, as viewed in Fig. 2. Asshown in Fig. 4, a shutter element [8 is pivotally mounted to the faceof element 1 which is adjacent to glass 3. Also, fixed within the spacebetween glass 3 and element 1 is a leaf spring ll, shown in Fig. 4,connected at one end to element as shown at [8, and bearing at its otherend against shutter element 16 so as to rotate the said shutter elementin a counterclockwise direction about its pivot l9, as viewed in Fig. 4.Therefore, the tendency of leaf spring I1 is to move shutter element IEto one side of the camera so that lens l i will be uncovered.

To the left of pivot 19, as viewed in Fig. 4, shutter comprises ashoulder in cut in from its periphery against which the beveled end H oftrigger element i3 is adapted to bear. When a longitudinal force isapplied to end [5 of element 13, the bevelled end 14 of element (3advances so that its inclined surface contacts shoulder 20 therebypivoting shutter element l6 Element 1 has a recess 8 at It in aclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4, against the action of spring I1and thereby covering lens ll. Element 2| is a stop member which limitsthe clockwise movement of shutter element 16.

Slidingly fitted within the inner cylindrical threaded portion ofelement 5 is a film holder 22 which may be made of brass, and to filmholder 22 is connected by means of threaded member 23 another filmholder 24, shown in plan view in Fig. 5.

As shown in Fig. 2, film holder 22 has its inner surface receding fromthe surrounding walls whereby the film may be held against this surfacein the film holder without falling out. Film holder 24 may have aplurality of surfaces which are concave as shown in Fig. 5 and againstwhich the film 25 is placed. Although three such surfaces are shown inFig. 5, it is to be understood 'hat the camera may include a number ofconcave surfaces which is greater or less than that shown in Fig. 5. Theinner longitudinal edges of the respective concave portions which holdfilm 25 comprise longitudinal abutments 26 which are adapted to hold thefilm fixed within the film holder 24. Over film holder 24 is fitted thecamera body 21 which is externally threaded at its lower end so as to beconnected with the upper internal threads of element 5 thereby fixingfilm holders 22 and 24 to the end and side cameras. Camera body 21comprises a notch 28 extending longitudinally from its lower edge, andwithin this notch is adapted to fit an extension 29 on the outer edge offilm holder 24, thereby alignin film holder 24 with the camera body 21so that the openings 30 of camera body 21 will be properly aligned withthe film in film holder 24. Openings 30 have jewels mounted therein,with a small hole passing through each of said jewels so as to permitthe light to contact the film in film holder 24.

Above film holder 24, camera body 21 is cut away so that twolongitudinal arms 3i extend from the lower cylindrical portion of camerabody 30 up to another cylindrical portion 32 located at the other end ofcamera body 21. Cylindrical portion 32 is externally threaded as at 33.

Fixedly mounted to the top of film holder 24 in a recess located in saidtop is a spring which bears against a shell which passes across camerabody 21, as shown in Fig. 2. On this shelf is mounted spring 34. Mountedon top of spring 34 within the two arms 3| of camera body 21 is thecylindrical flash bulb 35 having a metal end 36 which rests on spring 34and having a plastic end 31 at the other end of the transparentcylindrical member which with the two ends encloses the fiash materialwithin the flash bulb.

Just above the threaded lower end of camera body 2'! which meshes withthe internally threaded upper end of element 5 is located a fiange 38which is cut away at 39 to accommodate longitudinal sliding movement oftrigger element [3.

Threadedly connected to the top end of camera body 2! is cylindricalelement 40 having internal threads at the lower end thereof adapted tothreadedly connect with the threads 33 at the top of the camera body 21.Within element 40 is threaded plastic element 4! having a longitudinalbore 42 extending therethrough. About the extension 43 of plastic body4| is located a cylindrical brass element 44 having horizontal bores 45and 46 extending transversely through said element 44 and communicatingwith a longitudinal bore through element 44 within which bore theextension 43 of plastic element 4| slidingly fits. Within the horizontalbores 45 and 46 are located springs 41 and 43, respectively, which pressat one end against the extension 43 of element 4| and press at theirother end against ball elements 49 and 56, respectively, which arelocated in openings in element 46, these openings being of such a sizethat the ball elements extend slightly beyond the cylindrical surface ofelement 46.

Located about element 49 and camera body 21 is shutter element 5| whichis cylindrical at its lower end 52 and its upper end 53 and haslongitudinal arms 54 and 55 connecting said cylindrical portions 52 and53. The upper cylindrical end 53 of shutter element 5| is externallythreaded for a purpose which will be stated below and the innercylindrical surface of portion 53 contains a groove 56 adapted toreceive ball elements 49 and 56. Element 46 at the outer surface of itslower end comprises two flat portions adapted to fit within and next tothe inside of the arms 54 and 55. When the camera body 21 is threadedlyconnected with element 40 the said flat portions on element 40 areadapted to be aligned with the arms 3| of camera body 21, and,therefore, the arms 54 and 55 are aligned with the arms 3| of camerabody 21. In alignment with arm 55 on shutter element 5| and located atthe bottom edge thereof is an extension 51. The threaded connectionsbetween ele ments 5 and 21 and elements 21 and 40 at threaded portion 32is such that the extension 51 which is in alignment with arm 55 is alsoaligned with end I5 of trigger element I3 which projects slightlythrough the opening 39 in flange 38 of camera body 21. Therefore, it isevident that when shutter member 5| is slidingly moved towards element Iand abuts against flange 38 the extension 51 will extend through cutaway portion 39 and will push trigger element I3, thereby advancingtrigger element I3 and causing bevelled end I4 to turn shutter elementI! i to the position shown in Fig. 4.

The construction is such that spring I1 is strong enough to turn shutterelement I6 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4,

and thereby depress trigger element I3 so as to push shutter element 5|away from element I. It will be noted that the movement of shutterelement 5| from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown inFig. 2 closes the openings 30 in camera body element 21 andsimultaneously through trigger element I3 and shutter element I6 closesthe light path through opening 2. As will be explained below this isdone after the flashing of light within the cavity of the body, and itis necessary to provide a means, acting against spring I1, for holdingthe shutter element 5| over the openings 30 and shutter element I9 overthe opening 2 in order to prevent light from getting at the films beforethey are developed. This means is provided by ball elements 4!! and 50resting in groove 56 of shutter element 5|, these springs 41 and 48 inconjunction with ball elements 49 and 50 resting in grooves 56 beingstrong enough to hold the shutter element in its lower position as seenin Fig. 2, against the action of spring I1 and wherein the lowercylindrical portion 52 of shutter element 5| covers the openings 36 ofcamera body 21 and wherein the extension 51 on shutter element 5| bearsagainst end I5 of trigger element I3 so that the bevelled end I4maintains the shutter element I6 in the position shown in Fig. 4.

Within the plastic element 4| is a longitudinal bore 42, as mentionedabove, and a countersunk portion of polygonal cross section at the lowerend thereof within which is fitted the metallic element 56, the lowerend of metallic element 58 having a polygonal cross section adapted tofit in the polygonal cross section of the counterbore so as to preventrelative rotation between elements 4| and 59. As shown in Fig. 2, theupper end of element 58 is threaded and over this threaded portion isfitted a plastic cover 59 for element 49 havin a portion of reduceddiameter which fits within the inner cylindrical portion of element 40.The lower end of element 58 has a small bore therein adapted to makeelectrical contact with electrode 60 extending through the plastic endof the flash bulb and connected to the flash material of the bulb so asto enable electric current to be transmitted thereto to create a lightwithin the cavity of the body.

At the top of Fig. 2 are shown elements which are connected to thecamera so as to operate it. Element 6| is adapted to threadedly engagethe top end 53 of shutter element 5| and element 62 is adapted tothreadedly engage the top end of element 53. These parts are soconstructed that elements 58 and 53 may be simultaneously threaded toelements 62 and GI, respectively.

The operation of the camera as thus far described is as follows: Meansto be described below permit relative longitudinal movement of elements62 and 6| which relative longitudinal movement is communicated toelements 5| and 58 by the above mentioned threaded connections. Assumingthat element 6| and shutter element 5| remain in the position shown inFig. 2, the element 62 is moved downwardly so as to move ball elements49 and 56 out of groove 56 and thereby move the lower end of the cameraaway from the lower cylindrical portion 52 of shutter element 5| so asto uncover openings 36 and so that the spring I1 is free to push backshutter I6 to permit light to enter through lens II to the film on filmholder 22. This longitudinal movement is limited by means to bedescribed below so that it stops after the openings 39 are fullyuncovered. At the end of this movement, through a connection to bedescribed below, electrical current is sent through the flash bulb 35causing its flash material to become ignited and create a momentaryflash in the cavity of the body through the transparent enclosure of theflash bulb element 35. Since the inner cavity of the body is dark thismomentary flash is suiiicient to cause a picture of the internal cavityof the body to be taken on the various films located in film holders 24and 22. Through a means to be described below element 62 is moved backto the position shown in Fig. 2 and ball elements 49 and 59 engagegroove 56 in shutter element 5| so that the openings 30 will remaincovered and so that the spring I! will not be able to push back theshutter element I6. The camera may then be detached from elements 6| and62 by unscrewing the camera at its threaded connections to saidelements. The camera may then be sent away for the films to be developedand the ball elements and groove 56 will hold the shutter element 5| inplace so that no light can get to the films in film holders 24 and 22.

The following is a description of the means for operating the camera.Element BI is shown in Fig. 7 extending upwardly from its threadedconnection to shutter element Also element 62 is shown in Fig. 7extending upwardly from the threaded connection to element 58. Locatedbetween elements Bi and 62 is a plastic tubular element 63. Element BIis externally threaded at its upper end as shown at 64 and is connectedto element 65 by threaded coupling element 66 having a slightenlargement at the upper end thereof, as shown in Fig. '7. Element 65 isexternally threaded at its upper end as shown at 11 in Fig. 8 andconnects with metal coupling element '19 which fits within the plastichandle portion 18 which is threaded internally at its lower end toreceive element 79. Element 19 has a flange which fits just below thehandle portion 18, and element 79 is threaded just below this flange toreceive element 88 which is threaded internally and which is adapted toslidingly fit over the enlargement on the coupling member 68 mentionedabove. Element 88 is of a suitable outer diameter to slidingly receivethereon element 8| having an outwardly curved extending flange 32adjacent the upper end thereof and being adapted to slidingly and snuglyfit on element 8!! until the upper end of element 8| comes in contactwith shoulder 83 on element 88. Element 8! i of a smooth exteriorportion so that the said element 88 may be advanced into the internalcavity within the body and various parts of the device are moved withinelement 8| so as not to injure the membranes of the body. Slidingly andsnugly fitted on the lower end of element Si is a cylindrical member 84having a surface 85 which faces toward the lower open end of element 8|,this element 84 being of a shiny exterior. The arrangement is such thatwhen element 62 is moved with respect to element 8| by means to bedescribed below the camera moves forward from the lower end of element81, as shown in Fig. 1, the openings in the camera extend from beneathshutter member 5! and the shutter element [6 is free to uncover the endcamera under the influence of sprin [7. Just at the instant of the endof the longitudinal movement of the camera out of element 8| the flashbulb 35 flashes its light which is reflected within element Bl againstthe above mentioned surface 85 so that the light is directed forwardlyout of element 8| in order to properly and momentarily light up theinternal cavity. As shown in Fig. 1, element 84 is slotted at portions86 towards its upper end so that the element 84 snugly fits on the lowerportion of element 6%, whereby it may be slidably adjusted thereon.

Within the handle portion '18 is fixedly located a sleeve member 8! ofplastic material within which is threadedly mounted the element 88extending through a bore in the side of handle 18. Element 88 is boredlongitudinally as shown at 89 and opens into cylindrical metallicelement I0! to the lower end of which is attached the top end of plasticmember 63 which, as was mentioned above, is located between element 52and Element 88 is adapted to have an air connection attached theretowhereby air may be admitted through the bore 89 in element 88 and downthrough the element HH and plastic element 63 to escape through openings9| in element 8!, as shown in Fig. 2, and along element 81 out into theinterior of the body cavity. It is found that a better picture is takenwhen the body cavity is blown up with air.

On the fixedly mounted plastic member 81 is fixedly mounted anotherplastic member 92 which supports a metal member 93 to which wire 94 iselectrically connected at 95, wire 94 passing through an opening 96which extends through the side of element 81 distant from its threadedconnection to element 88. As is shown in Fig. 8, the plastic supportingmember 92 extends beyond the upper edge of cylindrical element 93.Fixedly located within said supporting member 92 is the metal elementlfii which, as was mentioned above, is connected to the plastic element63.

Fixedly connected to the control element 97 is a metal sleeve member 98which has a flange located internally thereof at 99, against the lowerside of which the metal spring I bears. Spring I00 increases in diameterfrom its top towards its bottom and the lower end of spring I 00 bearson the top of plastic element 92 and its lower end snugly grips themetal element H, as shown in Fig. 3. Slidably mounted within element 101is the metal element which is threadedly connected to plastic controlelement 91. At the innermost portion of the bore in element 9! islocated a metal element I02 to which is rigidly connected element 62 andagainst which the threaded element 90 abuts. Sleeve 98 is adapted toslidingly fit within the upper portion of handle 18 which has a flangeI03 to accommodate the fingers of the operator, whereby the thumb maycontact the upper depression in operating element 91 to bring element9'! closer to element I03. Connected to element 79 is the wire [04, thesaid connection being at 185, as shown in Fig. 8.

The following is the operation of the above described apparatus,assuming that the camera described in the early part of the applicationis attached to the operating members, as shown in the upper portion ofFig. 2. Assuming that the end of element 8| is located in the bodycavity, the operator grasps element I03 and depresses element 91 againstspring I08 and element 62 which is attached to element 58, as shown inFig. 2, causes through said movement the shifting of the camerawithrespect to shutter element 5! so as to uncover the openings of thecamera as described above. As is evident from Fig. 8, the downwardmovement of element 91 is limited by the lower end of element 98 comingin contact with the upper end of element 93. It is therefore seen thatthis limit of the movement of element 98 serves to complete the circuitthrough flash bulb 35 so as to cause a momentary flash of light withinthe body cavity at the moment when the end of the camera is furthestaway from shutter element 5i and when the openings of the camera aretherefore completely uncovered. The electrical path is through lead 94which is connected at to element 93 and then along element 98 which hascome in contact with element 93 by the downward movement of element 91.The current then flows along the flange 99 and through spring I00 tocylindrical member l0! which is in contact with sliding member 90 sothat the current flows to sliding member 90, up to element I02 at theinnermost portion of the bore 91, to shaft 62, which is threadedly andelectrically connected to shaft 58 shown in Fig. 2, and from shaft 58through portion 60 of the flash bulb 35 which extends through plasticelement 31, through the flash material in the flash bulb to the metalend 38 of the flash bulb, to the spring 34 which is connected to theshelf of camera body 21, from said shelf through the camera 9 body 21,through element 40 to the shutter element from the shutter element 5| toelement 6! which is connected by means of coupling 66 to element 65which is threadedly connected in the metal flange 19 to the upper end ofwhich is connected the lead I04 at the point of I05.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in types ofphotographic apparatus differing from the types described above.

While I have illustrated and described the invention as embodied in anapparatus for photographing cavities of the human body, I do not intendto be limited to the details shown, since various modifications andstructural changes may be made without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

Without further analysis the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofmy invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adaptit for various applications without omitting features that, from thestandpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute the essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention,and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of thefollowing claims.

Reference is made to applicants co-pending patent application Serial No.183,608 entitled Camera For Taking Photographs Of Body Cavities andfiled on September 7, 1950.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for taking pictures of body cavities, comprising incombination, an elongated rigid hollow tube having opposite open endsand a smooth exterior so that said tube may have one end portion thereofextending into a body cavity Without injuring body membranes; anelongated camera supporting and operating means, of a greater lengththan said tube, having a camera mounted on one end thereof and beingadapted to extend through said tube with said camera at said one end ofsaid supporting and operating means located slightly beyond said one endportion of said tube, said supporting and operating means having anintermediate portion thereof of an enlarged diameter located distantfrom said camera and dimensioned so as to have a sliding, snug fit withan interior opposite end portion of said tube located distant from saidone end portion thereof so that said camera supporting and operatingmeans is spaced from the interior surface of said tube from said one endthereof up to said intermediate portion thereof to provide an annularspace between said tube and camera supporting and operating means; andair-conducting means mounted in said camera supporting and operat ingmeans for conducting air through the same to said annular space, saidsliding snug fit of said intermediate portion of said camera supportingand operating means in said tube forcing air conducted" to said annularspace to flow through the interior of said one end portion of said tubeabout said one end of said camera operating and supporting means.

2. Apparatus for taking pictures of body cavities, comprising incombination, a camera; an elongated camera supporting an operating meansconnected to said camera and having a smooth, cylindrical surfaceportion located adjacent to but spaced from said camera; fiash bulbsupporting means located in said camera supporting and operating meansbetween said camera and said cylindrical surface portion; and a sleevemember mounted on said cylindrical surface portion of said camerasupporting and operating means for slidable movement therealong, saidsleeve member having an annular flange provided with a reflectingsurface facing said flash bulb supporting means, whereby, when a flashis created by a flash bulb located in said flash bulb supporting means,said reflecting surface directs the light therefrom toward said camera,said mounting of said sleeve member on said cylindrical surface portionof said camera supporting and operating means permitting said reflectingsurface to be adjustably located with respect to said camera and flashbulb supporting means.

3. Apparatus for taking pictures of body cavities, comprising incombination, an elongated tubular outer casing which is open at bothends thereof; an elongated camera supporting and operating means of agreater length than said tubular casing and having a camera at one endthereof, said camera being adapted to be located beyond one end of saidcasing when said camera supporting and operating means is mounted in thelatter, said camera supporting and operating means having an enlargedouter surface portion, distant from said one end thereof, dimensioned soas to have a sliding airtight fit with an inner surface portion of saidouter casing located adjacent an end of said casing opposite to said oneend thereof; reflector means mounted on said camera supporting andoperating means between said one end thereof and outer surface portionthereof; and conduit means extending through said camera supporting andoperating means and having an outlet end located between said one end ofsaid camera supporting and operating means and said reflector means,whereby, when a fiuid is conveyed through said conduit means and whensaid camera supporting and operating means with said reflector means arelocated within said outer casing, said reflector means will direct airfrom said outlet end of said conduit means to said one end of saidcasing, said air tight fitting between said casing and said camerasupporting and operating means preventing the fiuid from passing throughsaid opposite end of said casing and said reflector means also servingto reflect light created by said camera toward the latter and throughsaid one end of said outer casing.

4. Apparatus for taking pictures of body cavities, comprising incombination, an elongated, rigid, tubular outer casing which is open atboth ends thereof; an elongated camera supporting and operating means ofa greater length than said tubular casing'and having a camera at one endthereof, said camera being adapted to be located beyond one end of saidcasing when said camera supporting and operating means is mounted in thelatter, said camera supporting and operating means having an enlargedouter surface portion, distant from said one end thereof, dimensioned soas to have a sliding airtight fit with an inner surface portion of saidouter casing located adjacent an end of said casing opposite to said oneend thereof, the portion of said camera supporting and operating meanslocated between said outer surface portion thereof and said one endthereof being of a generally smaller diameter than said outer tubularcasing so as to provide an annular space between said casing and camerasupporting and operating means when the latter is located in saidcasing; reflector means mounted on said camera supporting and operatingmeans between said one end thereof and outer surface portion thereof;and conduit means extending through said camera supporting and operatingmeans and having an outlet end located between said one end of saidcamera supporting and operating means and said reflector means, whereby,when a fluid is conveyed through said conduit means and when said camerasupporting and operating means with said reflector means are locatedwithin said outer casing, said reflector means will direct air from saidoutlet end of said conduit means to said one end of said casing, saidairtight fitting between said casing and said camera supporting andoperating means preventing the fluid from passing through said oppositeend of said casing and said reflector means also serving to reflectlight created by said camera toward the latter and through said one endof said outer casing.

5. Apparatus for taking pictures of body cavitics, comprising incombination, an elongated, rigid, tubular outer casing which is open atboth ends thereof; an elongated camera supporting and operating means ofa greater length than said tubular casing and having a camera at one endthereof, said camera being adapted to be cated beyond one end of saidcasing when said camera supporting and operating means is mounted in thelatter, said camera supporting and operating means having an enlargedouter surface portion, distant from said one end thereof, dimensioned soas to have a sliding airtight fit with an inner surface portion of saidouter casing located adjacent an end of said casing opposite to said oneend thereof, the portion of said camera supporting and operating meanslocated between said outer surface portion thereof and said one endthereof being of a generally smaller diameter than said outer tubularcasing so as to provide an annular space between said casing and camerasupporting and operating means when the latter is located in saidcasing; reflector means mounted on said camera supporting and operatingmeans between said one end thereof and outer surface portion thereof andcomprising an annular reflecting surface located in said annular space;and conduit means extending through said camera supporting and operatingmeans and having an outlet end located between said one end of saidcamera supporting and operating means and said reflector means, whereby,when a fluid is conveyed through said conduit means and when said camerasupporting and operating means with said reflector means are locatedwithin said outer casing, said reflector means will direct air from saidoutlet end of said conduit means to said one end of said casing, saidairtight fitting between said casing and said camera supporting andoperating means preventing the fluid from passing through said oppositeend of said casing and said reflector means also serving to reflectlight created by said camera to- 12 ward the latter and through said oneend of said outer casing.

6. Apparatus for taking pictures of body cavities, comprising incombination, an elongated, rigid, tubular outer casing which is open atboth ends thereof; an elongated camera supporting and operating means ofa greater length than said tubular casing and having a camera at one endthereof, said camera being adapted to be located beyond one end of saidcasing when said camera supporting and operating means is mounted in thelatter, said camera supporting and operating means having an enlargedouter surface portion, distant from said one end thereof, dimensioned soas to have a sliding airtight fit with an inner surface portion of saidouter casing located adjacent an end of said casing opposite to said oneend thereof, the portion of said camera supporting and operating meanslocated between said outer surface portion thereof and said one endthereof being of a generally smaller diameter than said outer tubularcasing so as to provide an annular space between said casing and camerasupporting and operating means when the latter is located in saidcasing; reflector means mounted on said camera supporting and operatingmeans between said one end thereof and outer surface portion thereof andcomprising an annular reflecting surface located in said annular space,said reflector means being mounted for adjustable movement along saidcamera supporting and operating means; and conduit means extendingthrough said camera supporting and operating means and having an outletend located between said one end of said camera supporting and operatingmeans and said reflector means, whereby, when a fluid is conveyedthrough said conduit means and when said camera supporting and operatingmeans with said reflector means are located within said outer casing,said reflector means will direct air from said outlet end of said.conduit means to said one end of said casing, said airtight fittingbetween said casing and said camera supporting and operating meanspreventing the fluid from passing through said opposite end of saidcasing and said reflector means also serving to reflect light created bysaid camera toward the latter and through said one end of said outercasing.

ERNEST J. MARCOUILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 619,792 Schaaf Feb. 21, 18991,828,141 Back Oct. 20, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 54,722Germany Dec. 23, 1890 135,469 Germany Nov. 27, 1902 657,560 France Jan.16, 1929 736,817 France Sept. 26, 1932

